Inside Out's programming mandate asserts a commitment to the accessibility and development of a collective body of work that represents the diverse make-up of LGBT communities. We endeavour to curate film and video programs that reflect issues of contemporary significance in our communities, inviting artists and speakers to contribute their individual voices to the process. We strive to address the needs of underserved and marginalized communities within the LGBT community, and also in the broader context of communities marginalized by geographic, economic and social barriers, and encourage cross-cultural exchange and understanding. Moreover, we have a commitment to screen Canadian work-approximately 40 per cent of our programming is produced by Canadian artists.
The goals of Inside Out's programming mandate are:
Provide opportunities for the LGBT and broader mainstream communities to come together and celebrate our histories and lives through the exhibition of film and video
Promote and screen work produced by and about the diversity of our communities
Provide a forum for artists and audiences to interact and exchange ideas
Assist in the promotion of LGBT film and video, within Canada and internationally
Assist emerging and established film and video artists produce new work.
Download the 2010 Submission Form here
Inside Out, presenter of the Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival, invites you to join us for the 20th annual celebration of Canada's pre-eminent exhibition of queer film and video from around the world. Inside Out hosts one of the largest queer film festivals internationally, highlighting the diversity of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transgendered film and video making in documentary, shorts, features and installations.
Our 2009 Festival screened 200 works from 30 countries, with sold-out screenings daily. We had more than 150 guest filmmakers and artists attend the Festival from all over Canada, Israel, USA, France, Germany, Spain and more. Programming highlights included many Canadian, North American and World premieres, including The Fish Child (Argentina), An Englishman in New York (UK), Miao Miao (Taiwan), Private Lessons (Belgium) and Chef's Special (Spain).
Industry came out to the Festival in greater numbers with Showcase, CBC Television, BRAVO, the Independent Film Channel, Out TV, Mongrel Media, CFMDC, VTape, MTV Logo and other distributors all sending buyers and distribution representatives to look at our selections and secure work for theatrical distribution and broadcast. As well, representatives from more than 40 Canadian and international festivals attended Inside Out to seek out new works for their programming.
Toronto is a major film centre and home to one of the most vibrant queer communities in the world. Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival is renowned for its innovative programming, enthusiastic audiences, comprehensive media coverage and hospitality. Our venues offer state-of-the-art exhibition facilities in the heart of downtown Toronto, making the Festival an ideal place to launch new work. Inside Out hosts numerous parties, receptions and special events that provide excellent opportunities to network with industry professionals and other independent film and video makers.
Media coverage of the Festival has included features, festival round-ups, cover stories, previews, reviews and artist profiles in: Variety, Canadian Press, The Toronto Star, The Globe And Mail, The National Post, The Toronto Sun, Fab, Xtra, Now, Eye Weekly, CTV, City TV-Movie Television, CBC Television's The Hour, Sing Tao Daily, The Independent Film Channel, OUT TV, Film Festival Channel, MTV Canada, CFRB, Le Métropolitain, L'Express, Radio-Canada and CBC Radio.
The Festival is produced by Inside Out, a non-profit charitable arts organization dedicated to showcasing the best and most diverse film and video work produced by and about the lives of queers in Canada and around the globe.